Daniel Alexander Payne by Strobert Nelson T.;

Author:Strobert, Nelson T.; [Strobert, Nelson T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UPA
Published: 2012-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

The committee’s resolution was shared with other conferences and received positive responses. Subsequently, the committee delivered the report to the Cincinnati Conference on 23 September 1854.

The report is significant in that it indicated the importance of the educational endeavor not only for the benefit of persons of color but for all people in the country; moreover, education was not only to benefit the society within the United States but abroad as well. The resolution also implied that it could not be about this task without the involvement and cooperation of the AME Church. It had to do the work inter-denominationally. The determination to accomplish this project was visible in the focus on identifying a person to act on the church’s behalf. In addition to the resolution, the committee added the following: “We give no countenance to any theory which goes to deprive the black man of his full share in our common humanity, but hail him as a man, a brother, in accordance with that grand affirmation of the Bible, which must forever settle the unity of the human race. In that God ‘hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on the face of the earth.”31

It was at this gathering that John F. Wright, a presiding elder, was designated the agent to carry out the resolutions on their behalf. The word must have spread for it is reported that the hopes were ignited among the people in general and the Black constituency in particular.32

At the meeting of the Cincinnati Conference held on 28 September 1855, resolutions were adopted. Of particular importance were the following resolutions:

Resolved, That we recommend the appointment of Rev. John F. Wright as general agent for this Conference, to take the incipient steps for a College for the colored people in this State.

Resolved, That our delegates be, and are hereby instructed to bring this subject before the next General Conference for their sanction and assistance.

Resolved, That it be the duty of our general agent to co-operate with the African Methodist Episcopal Churches in promoting Sabbath schools and other educational interests of the colored people.33

On 30 April 1856 the legal papers were submitted to the State of Ohio with the corporate name “The Wilberforce University” with a board of 23 members.34 It was also noted that the submission was in conformity with an Ohio state law that went into effect in 1852 which underscored the corporate nature of establishing educational institutions.35

The location of the College was not an issue in that there was land available in Greene County, Ohio at Xenia Springs. The cost of the land was $13, 500 with 6% interest. The offer was good for only 10 days consideration. The Conference representatives brought the matter to the leadership of the General Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana who agreed that the land should be purchased. The report to the General Conference of 22 May 1856 described the view of the property, “It is situated in Greene County, Ohio, very near a good turnpike road, about midway between Cincinnati and Columbus, and near the railway.

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